>>This is a review of a sample can provided to Cider Says by Grand Illustion. Although I will take care to treat it the same as any other review, there is always the potential for bias as I received it for free. The only consideration I knowingly made was pushing this up in my cider review cue. I love free stuff, especially cider! Want your cider or cider-related product reviewed here? Contact me.<<

Availability: in Pennsylvania, primarily at their taproom, but soon, at some other locations

Cider Description:This well-balanced blueberry-lavender cider offers a pleasant sweetness and a light berry fruitiness; it finishes with a touch of English lavender.

Cidery Description: We are Grand Illusion, a hard cider production company located in Carlisle, PA. We use fresh pressed apples from Adams and York County to create magical ciders for all to enjoy. Our taproom in downtown Carlisle has become a destination, with 15 ciders, 5 beers, and 8 wines – all on draft and all from Pennsylvania.

Here is an article from a local newspaper on the cidery. They serve both their own ciders and ciders from other cideries at their taproom; see their tap list here.

First Impression: Lovely purple-blue hue. Low carbonation. Smells of lavender with a hint of berry.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness. High acidity. Hints of bitterness. No sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of citrus and a hint of berry. Moderate length finish with a hint of hops? (I had this after one of their hopped ciders, but my glass was clean, I also picked it up straight out of the can, and my husband was able to taste it too). Low apple flavor, flavor intensity, and complexity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it, but I would have liked more sweetness and flavor. I only picked up the lavender in the scent, where it was quite prevalent, so it was a bit of a letdown for it to not transfer to the flavor. However, I’ve had that happen with quite a few ciders I’ve tried. The finish with hops was unexpected. The flavor combination was nice though, and it was quite drinkable, plus for me it was more sessionable than their two hopped varieties I tried, due to the lack of bitterness.